The strategic responsibilities and required skills of a chief technology officer

Abstract

The dawn of Technology Age was marked by the mainframe. The tipping for lock stock societal change has been The Internet.This Technological progress has changed everything in business since. Information Technology has fed the winds of the Schumpeterian Gale, increasing the rate of creative destruction and upending business models are rate never seen before.Now more than ever the importance of managing an organisations technological capability is critical for business survival. Organisations require their Chief Technology Officers to go further, creating competitive advantage through astute technological management.The purpose of this study was to ascertain the strategic responsibilities of a Chief Technology Officer and what skills are required to meet these responsibilities.The findings of this research are underscored by the works of respected scholars and explored through the development of a Skills and Responsibilities Matrix developed through the research. This research highlights the importance of the CTO role as an executive of the business and the importance of having the correct individual.